Q&A: Wine & Food Questions
Beginning wine drinker
I have recently begun developing a taste for wine but I do not know anything about it. Have tasted several kinds but would like to become more educated in an easy way! Any suggestions would be appreciated. I do know I tend to prefer the sweeter/fruitier wines but unless I do a taste test I don't know what they are. Shiraz,cabernet,riesling etc I need to know the difference.Thank you for any help you might be able to give a beginner! Nancy
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
You can take the informal approach and simply buy and taste wines from different grapes and regions. You can also look on the LWE site for the many tastings that are open to the public and try to attend those that might be of interest. Large retailers in some states host free wine tastings, so you might keep your eye out for those.
If you want to be more serious, you can enroll in a wine course. An excellent program is offered by the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust - wset.org.uk) at various locations in the US, or in a distance learning format. By all means, buy a good reference book such as The World Atlas of Wine (Johnson & Robinson).
Good luck with your interest in this marvelous subject!
About The Expert
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with Europe's leader in direct sales of fine wines to consumers. Previously, he served as senior executive of Frederick Wildman & Sons, traveling regularly around the world to visit wineries and taste the new vintage from barrel. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993.
Visit Roger C. Bohmrich, MW's web site
